Tulane University
3-2
Massachusetts
1-4
Football Rallies for 31-24 Road Victory at UMass
Oct 1, 2016 | Football
Green Wave overcome 14-0 deficit to move to 3-2 overall
Photo Gallery | Printable Stats
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane football was down 14-0 in the opening four minutes against Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon, but rallied by scoring 24 unanswered points before eventually claiming the 31-24 victory.
It marked the biggest come-from-behind victory in the post-Katrina era, previously besting the time the Wave (3-2, 0-1 American Athletic Conference | West) rallied down 10-0 at Army on Oct. 3. 2009 to win it 17-16.
"It was just an overall team victory, said head coach Willie Fritz. "We didn't do a lot of great things in the kicking game. I was disappointed in some of our penalties. But we did enough to win and that's what we are trying to do every single week."
UMass (1-4) dealt a lightning quick first blow, going 59 yards in four plays on their opening drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass form Andrew Ford to Andy Isabella. Tulane then fumbled on the ensuing kickoff as the Minutemen recovered and struck on another 12-yard touchdown connection between Ford and Isabella.
Down 14-0, the Olive and Blue remained poised and quickly retaliated, driving 75 yards via 10 plays as Dontrell Hilliard punched in an 11-yard run for the score. The touchdown marked the beginning of what would be 24 unanswered points for the Wave, as the Olive and Blue tacked on a second quarter Andrew DiRocco 22-yard field goal, a third-quarter 36-yard touchdown pass from Glen Cuiellette to Terren Encalade and a third quarter 19-yard touchdown carry by Lazedrick Thompson.
Tulane possessed a 24-14 lead to begin the fourth quarter but the Minutemen would not go away, recording a 28-yard field goal with 9:37 on the clock to cut the deficit to seven points.
Yet, the Green Wave responded once more by logging an eight play, 75-yard scoring drive on the ensuing offensive possession, as Josh Rounds tallied a 10-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 31-17.
Next, UMass countered with a quick touchdown drive, garnering 58 yards in a short two minutes and 47 seconds, cutting the deficit to a touchdown once more at 31-24.
The Minutemen would later get the ball back with 2:18 left in the game, but the Green Wave defense sealed the victory by stopping UMass in its tracks in four plays as they turned the ball over on downs.
Up next, Tulane stays on the road and heads to Orlando searching for a third-straight victory when the Green Wave clash with UCF on Friday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. CT.
Green Wave Notes
• This marked the first contest between Tulane and UMass.
• Trailing 14-0, the Green Wave scored 24 unanswered points to eventually claim the 31-24 victory. It marked the biggest come-from-behind win for the Wave in the post-Katrina era, previously topping the 17-16 victory at Army, down 10-0, on Oct. 3, 2009.
• With the Green Wave's 3-2 overall record, Tulane moves above .500 through the first five games of a season for the first time since 2013 and just the fourth time since the 2000 season (2000, 2003, 2013, 2016).
• Today's game wrapped non-conference play for the 2016 season with the Wave posting a 3-1 record. It marked their first winning non-conference record since finishing 2-1 in 2004 and most non-conference wins since going 5-0 in 1998.
• The Wave's victory at UMass was their first win this season when trailing at half.
• Tulane's win was also the first road victory since its 34-31 triumph at Army on Nov. 14, 2015.
• Tulane recorded its longest scoring drive of the season in plays, yardage and time of possession, when PK Andrew DiRocco connected on a 22-yard field goal in the second quarter. Wave went 85 yards in 20 plays, spanning 8:32.
• RB Dontrell Hilliard's first quarter 11-yard touchdown run was his fifth rushing touchdown of the season and 14th of his career.
• FS Jarrod Franklin recorded his second interception of his career and first of 2016 in the second quarter off a 28-yard pass in Tulane's own territory.
• Tulane has now earned an interception in two straight games and in three of its five games this season.
• On UMass' opening drive of the third quarter, DT Tanzel Smart recorded his first forced fumble of 2016 and the third of his career. Franklin then earned his first fumble recovery of the season and second of his career.
• The Green Wave have logged a forced fumble and fumble recovery in four straight games.
• QB Glenn Cuiellette's 36-yard touchdown pass to WR Terren Encalade in the third quarter respectively marked a career long pass and reception for the duo. It also marked Cuiellette's fifth touchdown pass this season and Encalade's fourth touchdown reception.
• Encalade set a new career high in receiving yards with 125 on Saturday. Also tied his career high in receptions with seven – thus marking the second straight week with seven receptions.
• Tulane's third-quarter touchdown drive, which began from a forced fumble recovery, marked the fourth touchdown this season resulting from a defensive takeaway from the previous drive.
• RB Lazedrick Thompson's 19-yard touchdown run in the third quarter marked his third rushing touchdown of the season and eighth of his career. The 19-yard carry also marked a new season long.
• Six players extended their double-digit starting streaks on Saturday against UMass: OG Chris Taylor (32), LB Nico Marley (30), DT Tanzel Smart (29), CB Parry Nickerson (26), FS Jarrod Franklin (17), OT Todd Jacquet (17).
• The Green Wave went 3-for-4 on fourth down conversions, successfully achieving a conversion in each the first and second quarter. Tulane moves to 9-for-16 on fourth downs this season.
• WR Chris Johnson recorded his first career collegiate catch late in the fourth quarter, reeling in an 18-yard reception.
• RB Josh Rounds' 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was his fourth rushing touchdown of the season and fifth of his career. Also earned a season best in carries (16) and yardage (77).
• With rushing touchdowns from Rounds, Thompson and Hilliard, it marked the second time this season that trio all recorded a rushing touchdown in a game, previously achieving the feat against Southern on Sept. 10.
• WR Darnell Mooney tied his career high in receptions with three on Saturday. Mooney netted three in the quadruple overtime victory over UL Lafayette.
• CB Donnie Lewis, Jr. carried out the No. 18 Flag in honor of former Green Wave player Devon Walker.
• Game captains for Saturday's contest vs. UMass were NB Richard Allen, RB Dontrell Hilliard, DE Ade Aruna and TE Kendall Ardoin.
Team Stats
TLN 0, UMASS 7
UMASS - Isabella, A. 12 yd pass from Ford, A. (Caggiano, M. kick) 4 plays, 59 yards, TOP 1:12
TLN 0, UMASS 14
UMASS - Isabella, A. 12 yd pass from Ford, A. (Caggiano, M. kick) 1 plays, 12 yards, TOP 0:14
TLN 7, UMASS 14
TLN - HILLIARD, D. 11 yd run (DiROCCO, Andrew kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:29
TLN 10, UMASS 14
TLN - DiROCCO, Andrew 22 yd field goal 20 plays, 85 yards, TOP 8:32
TLN 17, UMASS 14
TLN - ENCALADE, T. 36 yd pass from CUIELLETTE, G. (DiROCCO, Andrew kick) 2 plays, 38 yards, TOP 0:27
TLN 24, UMASS 14
TLN - THOMPSON, L. 19 yd run (DiROCCO, Andrew kick), 7 plays, 84 yards, TOP 3:35
TLN 24, UMASS 17
UMASS - Laurent, L. 28 yd field goal 8 plays, 79 yards, TOP 3:15
TLN 31, UMASS 17
TLN - ROUNDS, Josh 10 yd run (DiROCCO, Andrew kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:05
TLN 31, UMASS 24
UMASS - Lindsay, S. 2 yd run (Caggiano, M. kick), 10 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:47
